Review of World through my Eyes.
Yogi announced that this album would be different... Is it different? Yes definitive! And not on a predictable way. Of course there is that heavenly influenced Gilmouresque guitar playing of our Karlheinz and of course Yogi voice and inimitable keyboard playing, is recognizable as always. And the men involved are still that technical crafted and emotional musician with guts. But the rhythm section is changed and how! Manni Meuller and Stephan Ebner are shooting the album to a higher heavier sequence, unbelieveable great! Still it is a remarkable RPWL sounding album.
The album starts with some Eastern sounds, just like "Trying to kiss the Sun" starts,
and then the bass and drums kicks in... and the mood change... A bit of
Porcupine Tree and it reminds to the Dutch rhythm section of Snowy White; Walter
Latupelirissa & Juan van Emmerloot, but again the excellent Floydian guitar playing has a
role in that train of thoughts too. When the Indian choir does come in, it gets something like an
enchanting mantra. That all together with the explosions of the rhythmn section and the strong lyrics it
creates a very powerful effect.
Nick: The album breathes out an conceptual story about our World. What is the main idea behind it?
Yogi: In the beginning of 2004, we discussed a lot about a thing that I had on my mind for quite some time: the loss of spirituality. Thinking about that all you see is a mirror of what you are, the most important thing is your spiritual and mental beeing. The world is multicoloured if your self is able to see this colours. The album deals about this thoughts and the danger that is obviously there in our modern time that is defined by a causual reality. Through my eyes people lost control over the most dangerous thing in the world: the money. Money replaced our religion, money replaced our ability to act and think natural. Money seems to be the reason for everything we do; itīs even responsible for having wars. Unfortunately there is no alternative, money makes the world go around... But if you really open your eyes, you see a world in all its grace. Itīs a great gift to be alive and I donīt think that our higher reason for living is to earn money! And when you look at the way we go: Itīs a shame that up to the 21st century we learned to destroy a world that we still cannot feed.
Nick: Is the story very important for you?
Yogi: Yes! So many people seem to be mislead by a corporate society. If you look for example at music: music has had a long spiritual history in many cultures before it was abused by a corporate society. Some people obviously rediscovered the fact that music can be more than background noise in elevators or a ringtone on your newest cellphone. It has the ability to give you mental support for your spirit and soul. I see the renaissance of Progressive Rock as a contra movement to the MTV-generation. Music is more than having fancy cars and perfectly shaped bodies flashing on your tv-screen.
Nick: What is you conection with Mantra's and other religions?
Yogi: Iīm very interrested in other views of our world, the differences of values, morals etc. I still believe that our own special way of beeing spiritual and religious is very individual. We have to find our individual connection to a world behind the causual reality.
Nick: When you wrote "Start the Fire" had you the song "Across The Universe" from the Beatles in your mind? (Om Jai, Deva). Are you influenced by them? Other bands that come in your mind, the Beach Boys for example?
Yogi: We only make the music we
truely believe in. Nevertheless I think that musicians are usually influenced by the music
they grew up with. When I listen to The Beatles with Sgt. Pepper and the Beach Boys with
Pet Sounds they still havenīt lost their magic up to know...
But when you record an album your emotions are wide opened and you try to let it out,
whatever it will be! There is no room for thoughts about beeing influenced...
Why did he asked Ray Wilson for doing "Roses"? Because he met him at a Genesis gig? Because he liked his voice so much? Or did he wanted a top one hit?
Nick: Did you met Ray Wilson at a Genesis gig, or at his solo tour? Did he knew you, or RPWL?
Yogi: I met him at his solo tour. He said he heard about us... hahaha
Nick: Why did you wanted him for "Roses"?
Yogi: Ray was able to add this feeling of lonelyness to the track that I couldnīt. The song deals about reaching a new state of mind, everything seems to be new and you start to see a new world through your eyes After this experience you come back to your hometown feeling out of touch with the current reality of life. Ray was able to capture all of this. Working with him was a great experience.
Nick: Any plans for a single release, "Roses" could get some airplay I guess?
Yogi: That could be the next step. Trying to reach more people and let them have a look through our eyes would be a great thing....
Nick: Who are the 3 Lights in your life?
Yogi: 3lights was the first song we did! Chris Postl came up with this nice chords on the acoustic guitar. The song is about a feeling I had when trying to run away as a kid one day. I was about 16years old and instead of going to school I justwalked around the city till I ended up at the train station and took a train to my grandmother! The first thing you see when the train arrives are the three lights in the distance coming closer. So during the recording sessions, when I took the last train home after a long day of work, the feeling came again. But this time the train came and picked me up to take me home. Itīs still a strong feeling when your standing on the platform, seeing all these people, going home... going away... We tried to record the song as it was a travel through the emotions I had.. For me itīs an amazing song that still touches me....
I know what you mean with those three lights and it was my intention when I wrote the
lyrics that there are many ways of interpretations.. Three is a magical number, light is
something you need for living and in that story it is more than that: it is the final
goal, the enlightment that we were waiting for....
But basically, I had all this thoughts when this train was coming and I saw the three
lights coming nearer...
The spiritual truth of the three lights taking you closer to the heart of whatever lifeīs
about is in your individual world that you see through your eyes!
Nick: Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy wrote "Sea Nature", why did you choose that song to cover?
Yogi: I felt that we could add a
certain RPWL feeling to the song.
It can be really interresting to cover songs. Most of the bands are trying to copy a
song; a thing that I donīt like....
We wanted to give the song new clothes and leave the body as it was! I think itīs a
nice version...
Nick: Do you regular visit
concerts? What was your last one?
And what was the one you always remember?
Yogi: The last concert was Ray Wilson
on his "Next Best Thing" tour.
Iīll always remember the "David Gilmour" concert 1984 at his "About Face" tour. I think it
was around the same time I saw Yes with their "90125" tour. Wow.....
The regular ceedee ends with "Bound to reach the End" ... awesome, got no more words for this, Karlheinz makes this song everlasting...
The SACD release ends with "New Stars are born" ... you don't want to miss this song, so buy the SACD version!
Nick: Is there anything else you want to say?
Yogi: I hope that all the listeners enjoy the world through our eyes! Thanks to our fans that stood with us over the years!
This is an absolutely fine rockin' Proggy album, with psychedelic Beatlesque spheres and
Floydian soundscapes. The sound quality is superb! I knew already that these guys are
seeking the perfect way to record albums, this one is proving that again. I really want
to know how this on sacd player sounds... think I need an ambulance in the neighborhood.
Highly Recommended.
The Players are:
Symfo-Index.